EU funds 133 innovations arising from frontier research with almost €20 million

Today, the European Research Council (ERC) announced the winners of the latest Proof of Concept grants, designed to help bring the results of research closer to market. Winning researchers will receive €150,000 each in top-up funding to explore the innovation potential of their ERC-funded discoveries. Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: "Through Horizon 2020, and the European Research Council in particular, we use EU funding to push the frontiers of science and knowledge. The Proof of Concept scheme is an instrument that encourages and accelerates the transition from the lab to successfully marketed technologies and goods. It helps Europe to spread the ideas and help them diffuse from top researchers to the industry and the society." The grants will support projects covering a wide array of subjects such as a new technology to harvest water from fog in arid areas in Greece, a neuroprotective stroke therapy developed in the Netherlands, and a web-based service to diagnose impaired speech in Germany. The ERC, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the first European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. It offers three core grant schemes: Starting, Consolidator and Advanced. Every year, it selects and funds the very best, creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based in Europe. A full press release of the ERC is available online. (For more information: Lucia Caudet – Tel.: +32 229 56182; Joseph Waldstein – Tel.: +32 229 56184)

Commission reinforces workers' protection against hazardous chemicals

Today the Commission has set indicative limit values for workers' exposure to 31 dangerous chemicals. This provides employers, workers and enforcers with a common reference point on the maximum level of exposure to these chemicals allowed in the workplace. Based on an assessment of independent scientists and after consultation of national experts and social partners, the Commission sets indicative limit values for 25 new chemicals and updates values for 6 existing chemicals. Member States must now adopt corresponding national values, for which they have a certain margin of manoeuvre given the indicative nature of the EU-set values. The list of limit values adopted today does not add any additional requirements for employers or national authorities, but gives a helpful steer to fulfil their obligations under the Chemical Agents Directive. In May last year, the Commission proposed to update the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive, by setting or updating fixed exposure limits for 13 cancer-causing chemicals in the workplace. The Commission made a second proposal, adding limits for another 7 chemical agents, earlier this year. (For more information:Nathalie Vandystadt – Tel.: +32 229 67083; Sara Soumillion – Tel.: +32 229 67094)

Fight against animal and plant diseases: €165 million committed for 2017

The Commission has adopted decisions to commit close to €165 million to fight against animal diseases and zoonoses as well as further support the survey programmes for plant pests in 2017. The funds allocated will help national authorities in the Member States to identify and act against the outbreaks that can have a serious impact on human health, economy and trade. In the animal health area, €150 million was awarded to support the eradication, control and surveillance for 131 programmes, including Bovine Tuberculosis, Rabies, Salmonellosis, Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies and Bovine Brucellosis. In addition, to tackle African swine fever, €9.5 million has been allocated in 2017 (more than a €2 million increase, compared to 2016). In the plant health area, EU has committed close to €14 million to support the survey programmes for 46 plant pests in 24 Member States in 2017, the highest financial allocation going to the fight against of Xylella fastidiosa pest. See online for more information on National Veterinary Programmes and Survey Programmes. (For more information: Enrico Brivio – Tel.: + 32 229 56172; Aikaterini Apostola - Tel.: +32 229 87624)

Today, Commissioner for the Security Union, Julian King is attending the Europol Management Board meeting at the headquarters in The Hague. The Commissioner will discuss with the members of the board Europol's reinforced role under its new legal mandate, and more broadly, the EU's actions under the Security Union. The cooperation between Europol, the European Commission and the Member States is essential in achieving the three main goals of the European Agenda on Security: strengthening the fight against serious cross-border crime, cybercrime and terrorism. In this respect, the Commissioner will also discuss how the cooperation could be further improved and what measures are needed to enhance the security in the EU. (For more information: Natasha Bertaud – Tel.: +32 229 67456; Katarzyna Kolanko – Tel.: +32 229 63444)